Five Injured, One Arrested after Single-Vehicle Crash on SH 44 in Encinal, TX
Encinal, TX — January 17, 2023, five people were injured and one was arrested after a single-vehicle accident on State Highway 44 in Encinal.
Authorities say the incident happened shortly before 9:00 a.m. on Highway 44 near Interstate 35. Preliminary investigation suggests a passenger vehicle was allegedly spotted by an officer speeding eastward on the highway. Before the officer could pull the vehicle over it reportedly went out of control and hit two parked vehicles, then went airborne and rolled over in a nearby parking lot.
The driver and several passengers were ejected during the crash. Two were taken by ambulance to a Laredo hospital, while three others were airlifted to a San Antonio hospital for treatment of critical injuries.
The driver was reportedly arrested and may face multiple unspecified charges.
The accident remains under investigation. No further information is currently available.
It's not really clear exactly how this crash happened, though the mention of charges suggests police think it was largely the driver's doing. However, deciding that out of the gate before a full investigation is conducted seems premature. It's possible the driver made mistakes, but many accidents are due to combinations of factors rather than one single cause. Anything from road conditions to vehicle malfunctions to medical emergencies could have been involved, and for the sake of all those in the car it's important to find out the whole story. I hope authorities plan to take the time and care needed to find it.
